Isaiah 51:7, commentary and pictures

It speaks to those who know what is right, the people who carry God's law within their hearts, telling them not to fear human reproach nor be afraid of insults and reviling. The reason is the sharp contrast between the revilers and God, for mortal men are temporary and will perish like a garment eaten by moths and wool consumed by worms, while God's righteousness, His holy law, and His salvation endure forever from generation to generation. God comforts and delivers them as the Lord their Maker who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, so they must not forget Him in fear of mortal oppressors but trust Him to loose the captive, cover them in the shadow of His hand, and bring the redeemed to Zion with everlasting joy. It describes God's faithful, commandment-keeping people in every age, gathered out of apostasy and rebellion, even the remnant to the very close of earth's history who through Christ's grace obey the Father's law. In the final conflict amid general departure from truth, it requires them not to compromise or hide their colors for fear of persecution and human laws against God's law, but to choose the right from principle despite shame and opposition, hold the banner of truth firmly, and proclaim God's law in connection with the faith of Jesus.

Meaning and Assurance

The verse is addressed to those who know righteousness, and to know righteousness means to have God's law in the heart. To them comes the direct command not to fear the reproach of men and not to be afraid of their revilings, insults, ridicule and abuse. The ground of that fearlessness is a sharp contrast between the temporary and the eternal. Those who revile are mortal and will perish like a garment consumed by the moth and like wool consumed by the worm, and mortal man dies and becomes as grass. By contrast God's righteousness shall be forever and His salvation continues from generation to generation through every generation.

That enduring righteousness named in the surrounding verses is His holy law, the transcript of His character, which lasts forever while human things pass away. God comforts and delivers His people as the Lord their Maker who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. He dried the sea to make a way for the ransomed to pass over, and His arm is called to awake as in ancient days so that the redeemed return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy upon their heads, obtaining gladness and joy while sorrow and mourning flee away. He hastens to loose the captive exile so he will not die in confinement or in the pit and his bread and provision will not fail. He puts His words in their mouth and covers them in the shadow of His hand, to plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth and say to Zion, Thou art My people.

Therefore fear of mortal rulers and oppressors must not make them forget their Maker, but they are to trust God their Maker and Deliverer who has power to deliver and comfort, rather than live in continual fear of oppressors. In the setting of divine judgment this assurance stands out plainly: the day that brings terror to transgressors brings joy to the obedient. God's obedient people, the righteous who serve God, have no cause for fear, unlike those who transgress His law, and He comforts and delivers them. As part of Isaiah 51-53, the verse belongs with passages showing that God has furnished fallen, sinful humanity a life-giving Saviour, the only hope of a life that measures with the life of God.

Faithful People and Courage

The address is to the faithful in every age, those gathered out from amid apostasy and rebellion who have the law in their hearts and through the grace of Christ are enabled to obey the law of the Father. It identifies the commandment-keeping people of God, the remnant continuing to the very close of earth's history, and defines their position and their duty to let the light of warning go forth.

It belongs to the work of rebuilding what has been ruined in a time of departure from truth and righteousness, upholding truth and restoring the Sabbath and the law of God. Those engaged in that restoration are not to fear human reproach or reviling but to remain faithful despite opposition, since their opponents are temporary while God's righteousness and salvation endure. It is therefore a scripture to be brought forward to teach the sacredness of God's law and to encourage faithfulness under opposition.

In its setting it applies to the commandment-keeping people when they face persecution and pressure to obey human laws that violate the law of God, with assurance that persecutors will perish while God's salvation and righteousness last forever. In that final conflict and general departure from truth and righteousness the remnant must not compromise, hide their colors, conceal their weapons, relax their efforts, or fear reproach and reviling. They are to maintain allegiance, hold the banner of truth firmly, proclaim the law of God connected with the faith of Jesus, and by aggressive gospel work build the old waste places and raise up the foundation of many generations.

Genuine faith will be tested and tried by bitter opposition and religious persecution that may require forsaking houses and lands and even relatives and fleeing from city to city. The greater a person's Spirit-controlled influence for good, the more determined will be the persecution driven by the enemy's envy and jealousy. Those who love God, share in the sufferings of Christ, persevere in obedience, and refuse to sell their souls for money or human favor will be honored by God and registered in the book of life. All who exalt themselves against the will and work of God will face His wrath at the appointed time and be consumed like a moth-eaten garment, but God's salvation and righteousness will last forever.

The call is to choose what is right from principle and to accept the inconvenience and shame that truth may bring, rather than waiting for truth to become popular or acting for worldly approval, and such courage is needed for the work of reform. Those addressed are not left alone, for the Lord helps them and strengthens them and gives them His Holy Spirit. The same word gives assurance and hope in long, painful, tedious affliction that Jesus looks upon the sufferer waking in the night, bears all burdens, and strengthens by grace to keep writing and working and giving counsel. Suffering is thus turned to the glory of God, calling for endurance without murmuring or complaining.